On Board Bookings

[momtraveler]

We booked a cruise while on board the Prinsendam with the understanding that it could be cancelled and my deposit of $200 was returnable. I had to cancel 8 months prior to sailing but HAL refused to refund my deposit. My TA and I both called several times and wrote to Seattle to no avail.

Has anyone had a similar situation and, if so, any suggestions.

We have sailed many times with HAL and are very disappointed with our treatment.

[pms4104]

We booked a cruise while on board the Prinsendam with the understanding that it could be cancelled and my deposit of $200 was returnable. I had to cancel 8 months prior to sailing but HAL refused to refund my deposit. My TA and I both called several times and wrote to Seattle to no avail.

Has anyone had a similar situation and, if so, any suggestions.

We have sailed many times with HAL and are very disappointed with our treatment.
We also have booked while onboard and always have understood that the $100/person deposit for a specific or to-be-determined cruise was not refundable. The $100/person deposit is good for most HAL cruises (exceptions being Grand or World Voyages, for example) booked within 4 years of depositing that amount with HAL ... after that, if unused, the $$$$$$$ belongs to HAL. At the bottom of the form we received from the onboard FCC confirming our deposit, it states clearly in bold that the Future Cruise Deposit is non-refundable.

Sorry that you perhaps were misled and, therefore, disappointed with HAL's handling of your issue.

If you are unable to get the $$$$$$$$ refunded, you might consider booking another HAL cruise before the 4-year deposit expiration.

[RuthC]

My understanding of the reduced deposit is that it must be used within four years, or it's lost. That's the trade-off for being able to put so little down.
But, I also understand that the deposit can be transferred to another cruise---as long as it's within the four-year period.

So, I doubt that you'll get anywhere as far as getting a refund, but you can apply the deposit to another cruise. Not all is lost that way.

I'm sorry you had to cancel. :(

[geologygeek]

We booked on board during a recent cruise. We were catergorically told that the deposit was non-refundable, but was transferable to another HAL cruise within four years. At no point were we under any other impression. I'd think in most cases a deposit is not refundable. Perhaps you could claim on travel insurance. But the excess/deductibe is likely to be the same as the deposit. I'm sorry to hear that this information was mis-communicated.

[pms4104]

My understanding of the reduced deposit is that it must be used within four years, or it's lost. That's the trade-off for being able to put so little down.
But, I also understand that the deposit can be transferred to another cruise---as long as it's within the four-year period.

So, I doubt that you'll get anywhere as far as getting a refund, but you can apply the deposit to another cruise. Not all is lost that way.

I'm sorry you had to cancel. :(
Thank you, Ruth, for clarifying for the OP the deposit transfer option.

[JimVrhovac]

They are good for 5 years

Ruth & Jim

[pms4104]

We booked on board during a recent cruise. We were catergorically told that the deposit was non-refundable, but was transferable to another HAL cruise within four years. At no point were we under any other impression. I'd think in most cases a deposit is not refundable. Perhaps you could claim on travel insurance. But the excess/deductibe is likely to be the same as the deposit. I'm sorry to hear that this information was mis-communicated.
The non-refundable statement above applies to the $100/person deposit paid while onboard ... any other cruise fare deposit is most definitely refundable up until final payment date.

[pms4104]

They are good for 5 years

Ruth & Jim
Is that a new policly? In 2006 and again in 2007, we were told it was good for 4 years.

[JimVrhovac]

That's what we were told when we booked several last year. We got 10 to hold us over for a couple years.

I have been known to make listakes though.

Just ask Ruth, my wife and master

Jim (without Ruth)

[momtraveler]

Thanks everyone. Just checked my docs and there was no reference to the deposit being non-refundable. Guess the cruise consultant was less than honest with me.
By the way, Princess does refund on request.

[RuthC]

Is that a new policly? In 2006 and again in 2007, we were told it was good for 4 years.
It's four years.
Jim's just adjusting for inflation. ;)

[JimVrhovac]

Not adjusting for inflation

Adjusting for senility

Jim

[waiting2retire]

Jim,

You probably just weren't paying much attention since you knew those 10 deposits wouldn't last you and Ruth anywhere near the 4 OR 5 years they are valid (lucky you) :D

Bonnie

[KAKcruiser]

When we booked we were told that the deposit was refundable if you booked a specific cruise while onboard. When I returned home, I called HAL central reservations and they confirmed that the deposit was refundable. They said that the deposit that was nonrefundable was the open booking one.

[Krazy Kruizers]

We booked a cruise while on board the Prinsendam with the understanding that it could be cancelled and my deposit of $200 was returnable. I had to cancel 8 months prior to sailing but HAL refused to refund my deposit. My TA and I both called several times and wrote to Seattle to no avail.

Has anyone had a similar situation and, if so, any suggestions.

We have sailed many times with HAL and are very disappointed with our treatment.

As others have said -- it is not refundable. Sorry that you misunderstood this -- it should also be noted on the confirmation sheet that was given to you while you were on board the ship and booking a future cruise.

By the sounds of it you still have 3 more years to book another HAL cruise.

[Jade13]

Thanks everyone. Just checked my docs and there was no reference to the deposit being non-refundable. Guess the cruise consultant was less than honest with me.
By the way, Princess does refund on request.

Your paperwork has to have the FCC name or ID. If you think they were dishonest, contact them. HAL just started doing this in the past couple of years and the deposit is non-refundable but can be transfered to another cruise. They also give you OBC. I don't blame HAL, otherwise people could hold cruises and cabins for years and then request all of their money back. The standard form should say it is non-refundable. Perhaps there is a loop hole if the consultant was not honest, did not use HAL's paperwork and gave you some other paper?

If you like HAL, why would you not pick another cruise? Better to hold with $100.00pp vs $1,000 or more.

[Jade13]

When we booked we were told that the deposit was refundable if you booked a specific cruise while onboard. When I returned home, I called HAL central reservations and they confirmed that the deposit was refundable. They said that the deposit that was nonrefundable was the open booking one.

Hmm, that is news to me. especially since I booked a specific cruise onboard last year. Was this with the $100.00 deposit? Was this recently and is this stated on your paperwork? I wonder if you were on the same ship or had he same FCC as the OP?

Perhaps you could tell the OP whom you spoke to in central reservations as obviously this has not been consistent and there is someone in central who will refund their money. In my case I'm sure the terms were clearly stated on the paperwork. HAL needs to have clients sign off that they agree the deposit is not refundable if that is the case. They should be able to produce that paperwork in the OPs case.

[taxmantoo]

Other than the reduced deposit, is there any other advantage such as an OBC or any other benfit to booking while on board? Other lines offer OBC's or reduced fares, etc. Reduced deposit is not a plus for us, as you have to pay eventually anyways. You can pay now or you can pay later.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Other than the reduced deposit, is there any other advantage such as an OBC or any other benfit to booking while on board? Other lines offer OBC's or reduced fares, etc. Reduced deposit is not a plus for us, as you have to pay eventually anyways. You can pay now or you can pay later.

Since we book cruises anywhere from 1 year to 18 months in advance, we love the idea of having to put down only $100 per person for a deposit on a cruise. The extra money stays in our accounts and we collect the interest on our money - not HAL.

We have gotten a bit of a discount on future cruises - not much.

Shipboard is another plus -- depending on the category you book and the length of the cruise, depends on the amount of shipboard credit you get. Which can also be combined with AMEX PLat and Carnival's shipboard credits.

[Krazy Kruizers]

When we booked we were told that the deposit was refundable if you booked a specific cruise while onboard. When I returned home, I called HAL central reservations and they confirmed that the deposit was refundable. They said that the deposit that was nonrefundable was the open booking one.

Strange -- we booked a specific cruise -- after a few months we changed our minds and decided to cancel it. When our TA called HAL and cancelled it, they told our TA that the $100 deposits would still be held for us when we decide on what future cruise we would like to take.

No refund of the money.

[m steve]

When we sail in Nov. I would like to book a few in advance for us and also can I take advantage and book for my daughter and husband who have never sailed and will join us in Feb. I will be paying.
Also i didn't see mentioned that not only is the deposit reduced, you get an on board credit as well based on the length of the cruise.

[Stevesan]

This ain't rocket science, folks.

Direct booking with a future cruise while on board you don't directly make a $100 deposit.
You purchase a Future Cruise Credit for $100.
The FCC is then used as the deposit.
If you cancel that cruise, the FCC is returned to your account.

If HAL's web site is anything like Princess, there's a page listing the staus of your FCCs.
Mine displays both the active FCCs I used for upcoming cruises, and unused FCCs.

The cruise rep on board makes no secret of the rules.
A confirmation letter is delivered to your stateroom detailing the rules, including how long the FCC is active.
Unused FCCs are refundable upon request.

Easy Peasy! :p

[RuthC]

This ain't rocket science, folks.

Direct booking with a future cruise while on board you don't directly make a $100 deposit.
You purchase a Future Cruise Credit for $100.
The FCC is then used as the deposit.
If you cancel that cruise, the FCC is returned to your account.

If HAL's web site is anything like Princess, there's a page listing the staus of your FCCs.
Mine displays both the active FCCs I used for upcoming cruises, and unused FCCs.

The cruise rep on board makes no secret of the rules.
A confirmation letter is delivered to your stateroom detailing the rules, including how long the FCC is active.
Unused FCCs are refundable upon request.

Easy Peasy! :p
Are you basing this post on what you know from Princess? Or from HAL?
Because on HAL you cannot check this out on their website.
And on HAL your future cruise credit is non-refundable.
And yes, you can make a $100 deposit on a cruise; it is not termed a future cruise credit that is immediately turned into a deposit.

[Juanita462]

One thing I checked out with the onboard cruise consultant was - did the deposit mean that a cruise was officially booked and if a sale came up after that time we would not be able to take advantage of it because it would not be a new booking (does that make sense:) ) the answer was yes.

So, we have never booked onboard - last year we booked after the final payment date and saved $5000 each on our cruise from the original price quoted to us.
We could never have taken the long cruise otherwise - way too expensive.

[jtl513]

Other than the reduced deposit, is there any other advantage such as an OBC ...Yes, and it varies with the length of cruise and cabin class:

7>11 days $25 pp Inside or Outside, $35 pp Verandah (VA>VF or A>BC), $50 pp Suite (SA>SY or S on R&S class ships)

12+ days $50 pp In & Out, $75 pp Verandah, $100 pp Suite

Note that I said VA>VF, not VH, because that is what my letter said. Maybe it should have said VH, or maybe VH gets treated as an Outside.

[m steve]

twice since booking on board and the credit just moves with my latest booking as does the $100pp deposit.

[Pam in CA]

When we booked we were told that the deposit was refundable if you booked a specific cruise while onboard. When I returned home, I called HAL central reservations and they confirmed that the deposit was refundable. They said that the deposit that was nonrefundable was the open booking one.When my friend and I were on the Prinsendam last summer and booked our cruise for January '09 buying a FCC for $100, we were told exactly what KAK was. We're on the Prinsendam in October and we'll probably buy an FCC; I'm sure we'll be back on HAL some time in the next four years.

Stevesan is correct in that on the Princess website, you can check the status of all of the FCCs you've bought and which FCC has been applied to which cruise. It sounds as though HAL doesn't make this information available, which is a shame. The difference between the Princess and the HAL FCC is that Princess FCCs are fully refundable. The default is to put the FCC back onto your account to use for another cruise but if you request a full refund of the FCC, you can get it. Something else the Princess website has that I wish HAL had is that you can sign in using your email address and a PW, and all of your upcoming cruises are listed and you can complete your PIF, sign up for shore excursions, make special requests, etc. for each one without having to sign in with the booking # for each individual cruise.

[pms4104]

Strange -- we booked a specific cruise -- after a few months we changed our minds and decided to cancel it. When our TA called HAL and cancelled it, they told our TA that the $100 deposits would still be held for us when we decide on what future cruise we would like to take.

No refund of the money.
That has been my understanding since the inception of the reduced deposit/future cruise option program.

When we were onboard the Volendam in 2006 we booked our December 2007 sailing. At that time, the FCC told us we could make a $100/person deposit for a specific or to-be-determined cruise ... and that $$$$$$$$ was non-refundable and available to us for 4 years. The $100/person would go poof if we did not use it toward a specific sailing during that time. Our other option, if we chose to do so, was to book a specific cruise and make full/normal deposit ... and that $$$$$$$$$$ was fully refundable up til the final payment date of that specific cruise.

[haligonian37]

When we sail in Nov. I would like to book a few in advance for us and also can I take advantage and book for my daughter and husband who have never sailed and will join us in Feb. I will be paying.
Also i didn't see mentioned that not only is the deposit reduced, you get an on board credit as well based on the length of the cruise.

You will be able to do this for your daughter and husband. I did the same for my sister and BIL this past May aboard the Oosterdam. They also have never cruised before but I was able to purchase FCC's for them with no problems.

[Stevesan]

Wow!
I wasn't aware that there are such major differences in the FCC rules.
That is distressing. Because of pricing differences (I'm now a solo) I haven't sailed HAL since the inception of FCCs.

My intent was certainly not to diss HAL. I assumed (we all know what that means) that the two lines,
both under the Carnival umbrella, would have the same policies.

Every time I book I look at HAL first. It's still my favorite.
However, I may never get back if the policies and prices remain so restrictive. :(

[m steve]

can find one cruise to book in 4 years on HAL. Just remember that the balcony cabins are bigger than Princess unless you pay extra to book a mini suite.

[Stevesan]

can find one cruise to book in 4 years on HAL. Just remember that the balcony cabins are bigger than Princess unless you pay extra to book a mini suite.

You'd think so, but noooo. :o

Actually I first sailed Grand Princess in Y2004, before my solo days, because it sailed out of Galveston, only 65 miles from my driveway. Besides the convenience, I saved beaucoup $ on air fare.
Then I went and really surprised myself by liking a 108K ton, 2,000 pax, cruise ship! :D
I'm the guy who disliked Vista class, so go figure.

I'm gonna divulge a secret. if you ever decide to sail Grand the Cat CC OVs on Lido are, shhh don't tell anyone, 207 sft w/floor to ceiling windows. They are, however, on Grand only.


Since sailing solo I book only inside cabins. OVs and up are 200% single supplement on both HAL and Princess. Fuggedaboudit.
I spend very little time in the cabin, and I take along a nite light for company.

Balconies, however, are good for drying out snorkel gear.
Using the shower as a drying station is definitely worth the extra $,$$$.